Joint Statement from Tri-Caucus Chairs on Trump’s Termination of Grants for Minority-Serving Institutions

Joint Statement from Tri-Caucus Chairs on Trump's Termination of Grants for Minority-Serving Institutions

WASHINGTON - The Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus-Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)-released the following joint statement today in response to reports that the Trump administration is terminating grants for hundreds of colleges and universities that serve large minority student populations.

These Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) include Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Native American Serving NonTribal Institutions (NASNTIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).

"Higher education is a critical pathway to economic opportunity, and Minority-Serving Institutions have opened doors for millions of students from all backgrounds to pursue a college degree. By terminating grants for certain MSIs, the Trump administration is sowing division and denying students of color the opportunities they need to succeed. We won't stand for it.

"This reckless move will have devastating consequences. Divesting these critical funds at the expense of students who need our financial assistance the most, all to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest in our nation, is unconscionable. It threatens the futures of first-generation and low-income students, shuts millions of families out of the American Dream, and undermines our nation's long-term economic growth. Above all, it sends a message to Black, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students that there is no place for them in our nation's colleges. This is just the latest attack in the administration's crusade to dismantle our public education system and destroy the very policies that ensure equal access to learning.

"The Congressional Tri-Caucus stands on the shoulders of generations who fought for the very right to walk into a school free from discrimination. We will continue fighting so that every student, no matter where they come from or how much their parents make, can achieve the American Dream. The future of our country depends on it."

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Press Contact

James Kwon (CAPAC): [email protected]

Rafael Bernal (CHC): [email protected]

Freedom Murphy (CBC): [email protected]